Page 87 iGap Travel Guide 2022
P. 87
iGap Travel Guide | The Americas
87
THE BEST SELF-GUIDED BACKPACKING TOURS IN CANADA
The West Coast Trail
One of Vancouver’s most popular and challenging
coastal treks, the West Coast Trail is an incredible way
to experience the unique landscapes that Canada has
to offer. With British Columbia renowned for having
some of the most stunning and dramatic scenery in
North America, this world-class trail meanders through
a spectacular melange of solitary evergreen forests,
bio-diverse rock pools, and golden beach campsites.
Although the route stretches 75km and can be a
gruelling challenge for the less equipped, it is also
considered to be one of the best hiking trails in the
world, offering an experience as rich as the island’s
flora and fauna, with panoramic views of a distinctive
renewed beauty and life.
Famed for its ruggedness, the West Coast Trail
stretches from Bamfield near Barkley Sound all the
way to the Gordon River trailhead – close to the town
of Port Renfrew on Port San Juan. The great thing
about this trail is its abundance of scenic vistas, giving
travellers the opportunity to start or finish at any
point of the hike while still capturing Canada’s natural
beauty in all of its glory. Many hikers decide to opt out
of the forested sections of the trail, for the hundreds
of bridges and sprawling ladders in the towering
old-growth woodlands provide an often strenuous
element for less experienced hikers.
If this is the case, stick to the secluded south-western
shoreline of Vancouver Island, which will satisfy your
wanderlust needs with sparkling centrepieces like
Tsusiat Falls. Dramatically wide and mesmerisingly
picturesque in appearance, Tsusiat Falls is the perfect
place for a natural shower or a well-earned dip. Other
notable sights include Victoria Harbour, filled with
plenty of tourist attractions and activities, while
Tofino is ideal for year-round surfing facilities and the
occasional whale-watching.
87
THE BEST SELF-GUIDED BACKPACKING TOURS IN CANADA
The West Coast Trail
One of Vancouver’s most popular and challenging
coastal treks, the West Coast Trail is an incredible way
to experience the unique landscapes that Canada has
to offer. With British Columbia renowned for having
some of the most stunning and dramatic scenery in
North America, this world-class trail meanders through
a spectacular melange of solitary evergreen forests,
bio-diverse rock pools, and golden beach campsites.
Although the route stretches 75km and can be a
gruelling challenge for the less equipped, it is also
considered to be one of the best hiking trails in the
world, offering an experience as rich as the island’s
flora and fauna, with panoramic views of a distinctive
renewed beauty and life.
Famed for its ruggedness, the West Coast Trail
stretches from Bamfield near Barkley Sound all the
way to the Gordon River trailhead – close to the town
of Port Renfrew on Port San Juan. The great thing
about this trail is its abundance of scenic vistas, giving
travellers the opportunity to start or finish at any
point of the hike while still capturing Canada’s natural
beauty in all of its glory. Many hikers decide to opt out
of the forested sections of the trail, for the hundreds
of bridges and sprawling ladders in the towering
old-growth woodlands provide an often strenuous
element for less experienced hikers.
If this is the case, stick to the secluded south-western
shoreline of Vancouver Island, which will satisfy your
wanderlust needs with sparkling centrepieces like
Tsusiat Falls. Dramatically wide and mesmerisingly
picturesque in appearance, Tsusiat Falls is the perfect
place for a natural shower or a well-earned dip. Other
notable sights include Victoria Harbour, filled with
plenty of tourist attractions and activities, while
Tofino is ideal for year-round surfing facilities and the
occasional whale-watching.
